Most of the Kidwais are familiar with the origin of their surname; it comes from the word Qidwa and means 'Elevated' in Arabic. This word Qidwa was taken from the title Qidwat-Uddin given to Qazi Moiz Uddin, son of Shah of Merak of Rum. Rum was the name given to the area that included present-day Turkey, part of Azerbaijan and northern Syria.